Chester County Democratic Committee Reports Women Ruled the Day as Row Offices and Judicial Nominees Coalesce for November 5, 2019

West Chester, PA (May 21, 2019) – The votes are in and Democratic women led the way with wins by Deb Ryan for District Attorney, Fredda Maddox for Sheriff, Analisa Sondergaard (along with Bret Binder) for Common Pleas Court, Marian Moskowitz (along with Josh Maxwell) for Commissioner, Debbie Bookman for Prothonotary and Michele Vaughn for Register of Wills, as well as Chris Pielli for Recorder of Deeds. With Primary Day 2019 behind them, local Democrats turn their focus on a winning slate for Tuesday, November 5.

“Our members did their homework and voted for the strongest slate of candidates to lead a blue wave into 2020,” noted Dick Bingham, Chair of the Chester County Democratic Committee (CCDC). “Unlike our fellow Republicans, who make the decision for the voters, we allow the voters to ultimately decide who will be on the ballot in the fall.”

For the first time in this traditionally Republican collar county of Philadelphia, there was an abundance of choices on the Democratic ballot in just about every race. A wealth of highly qualified residents entered political races —- many in their first campaign — from hometown spots on the school and township boards to a half dozen county row offices.

Four strong Democratic candidates ran in the Commissioners race with Josh Maxwell, Mayor of Downingtown, and Marian Moskowitz, county business and civic leader, winning the top two vote counts. All three Chester County Commissioner slots are up for grabs. Dems have a solid chance to fill two –- a historic first if successful, as no more than one Democrat has ever served on the three-person panel.

History has already been made in the last two elections with four row offices won by Dems in 2017 and then in 2018 the 6th Congressional race, six State Representative races, and two State Senate races. Adding five more county row offices in 2019 would be an incredible feat for the Democratic party that is (and always has been) behind in registered voters. With changing demographics countywide, the R to D gap has narrowed to about a 10,300-voter difference.

The Daily Local recently noted last month that “the figures mean that 42.6 percent of the county’s voters are Republicans, versus 39.7 percent Democrats and 17.6 percent others.”

In other races, two nominees were chosen for both Chester County Common Pleas and for the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

There are two open seats on the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County, left vacant by judicial retirements this year. Current Magisterial District Judges Analisa Sondergaard and Bret Binder will run on the Democratic ticket in the fall.

The nine-member Superior Court is one of three statewide appeals courts. The judges decide private disputes that do not involve the state government. In 2019, two positions are open on the court after one judge “aged out” and another opted not to run for retention. Amanda Green-Hawkins and Daniel McCaffery will appear on November’s ballot for a 10-year term.